Vehicle-wheel rim.



PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

' I. HODGSON.

VEHICLE WHEEL RIM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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I. HODGSON. VEHICLE WHEEL RIM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

ISAAC HODGSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS. MlNNESOTA, ASSTGNOR TO THE AUTOMOBILEWHEEL AND RIM COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application filed June 6, 1905. Serial No. 263,982.

To all whmrt it Tmty concern:

Be it known that I, TsAAc HoDcsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinVehicle-Wheel Rims, frequently designated Tires; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itbelongs to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, secure, and efficientelastic rim for wheels of vehicles, especially adapted for applicationto automobiles, or what are frequently designated as horselesscarriages; and to this end it consists of the novel devices andcombination of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinsimilar characters represent similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the wheel with a part of therim-cover broken away and showing the helical springs and other parts ofsaid rim, hereinafter described, in proper position on the body of thewheel. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line A A, ,Fig. 1, Fig. 3, andFig. 4, Figs. 3 and 4 being also enlarged. Fig. 3 1s a plan view of thereel-plates, f, f, (plunger,) and f (boss) being component partsthereof, showing the wire wrapplng g in the channels of the plates f,which constitute the reel as it appears after the cover '5. and paddingh are removed, also showing the position of the helical springs d andplungers f in dotted lines below. Fig. 4 is an inverted view of one ofthe plungersf and reel-plates of same, with spring in position andshowing a part of annular pad h and wire wrapping above. Fig. 5 is aplan of one of the baseplates 0, showing spring in proper osition. Fig.6 is a developed view of a part 0 the face or tread of the wheel-covert, showing the bolt-headsj in position to a small scale, same as that ofFig. 1.

The body of the wheel to be of suitable Wood or other material,constructed in the usual way and provided with a good steel tire a, uponwhich shall be secured a band I), of suitable material, preferablyhickory, bent and molded to proper form, and upon said band I) shall beconstructed the elastic portion of said rim, consisting of severalparts, hereinbefore and hereinafter designated. To

properly and equally tempered secure said parts in proper operatingposition, first secure the base-plates c to the wooden band I), thenslip the springs at over the circular stub-shafts c, which are componentparts of c, and place or drop the plungers f in the springs (1. Nowbefore wrapping or reeling on the wire cables 9 the springs (I must becompressed at least one-quarter of an inch, so that when the saidcable-wrapping is properly done the wires or cables will be in strongtension, thus securely uniting the said reel-plates in a flexiblereel-covering and engaging said springs d and base-plates c, which arerespectively in numbers of equal plurality. Said reel-cables 9 shall attheir extreme ends be securely anchored to the reel-plates f.

The baselates c and the reel-platesf may be of malleable iron or steel,preferably the latter, dropforged, and shall be properly formed andfitted in every part to the true circular curves of the wheel. Thesprings d shall be of suitable material, preferably steel,

for the purpose. Covering said reel-plateshf and cablewrapping 9 heavytextile fabric shall be securely reeled on, thus forming a strongannular flexible pad beneath the cover i. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) Saidcover i shall be composed of strong textile fabric in rubber, heavy onthe tread, so as to be waterproof. The sides of the said cover "L nearto the line of tread may be protected by short sections 7c, ofsheet-brass armor, properly and securely riveted, having metal washerson the inside. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Said ressed down hard upon the ad h,securely holted at 3' to the bosses f 2 of t e reelplates f. The bolts 1shallbe provided with sole-leather and metal washers, the former next tothe cover '11 and the latter, of smaller size, under the heads of saidbolts. The open edges of said cover 4; shall then be drawn down to theband I), tacked thereto, and secured in position by the annular metal,preferably brass, clamps Z, bolted at m.

T 0 protect the spokes q of the wheels from mud and dirt and to preventthem from, fanlike, causing a dust nuisance, they shall be covered withsheet-metal disks 11., preferably brass, secured to the felly r andspokes q and made waterproof.

Inasmuch as two springs of each wheelrim will be always in action(compression) and must sustain one-fourth of the load, 1ncludingone-fourth of the weight of the vecovert shall be ICC will and shallsustain the entire load with a slight depression not to exceedthreesixteenths of an inch when not in motion. Hence in this simple waythe necessary strength of the sprin s for any known load can be readilyascertained. Single or double helical springs may be used, preferablythe latter.

I am aware that prior to my invention vehicle-wheels With elastic tireshave been made and used. Therefore I do not claim such a combinationbroadly; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure b Letters Patentof the United States, is as fo lows:

1. An elastic rim combining a plurality of ISAAC HODGSON Witnesses:

EDGAR J. HODGSON, RUTH M. SOLBERG.

